Need advise on shooting a man in a wheel chair

[Sonny]

I NEED some help/advise. We are still in the process of building our family/senior/children portfolio. We have a friend that wants a family session so we booked her family for a shoot in two weeks.

Jeana's husband, Aaron is in a wheel chair and missing his left leg. To be honest I don't know where to start. Can you offer an techniques, tips and posing suggestions for a person in a w-chair. Their family consists of daddy, mommy, three daughter (4, 3, & 1), and maybe a son (12).

To make matters tougher, this will be their first ever family photo. I'm not worried about my photography skills, I'm more concerned about making Aaron feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera.

[kayumangi]

But why would it be different if the guy is on a wheelchair?

I've shot pictures of my uncle who is paralyzed from the waist down and I didn't treat him any differently.

Like any subject find out what makes him tick, my uncle loves machetes so I started the conversation there =)

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by kayumangi

But why would it be different if the guy is on a wheelchair?

I've shot pictures of my uncle who is paralyzed from the waist down and I didn't treat him any differently.

Like any subject find out what makes him tick, my uncle loves machetes so I started the conversation there =)

I'm not trying to treat him differently. This will be his first time in front of the camera. I always treat people as I would like to be treated. He is also my friend and I know he's still dealing with his situation.

Are there any poses or placement in a photo that would be more flattering for him? That's what I'm wanting to know.

[TxLerman]

Sonny,

To help with your anxiety, remember a wheelchair is just a chair wth wheels. I would send the family a link to your portfolio and ask them to review your family shots, especially ones with people sitting. Then ask them to tell you what they think would work for them. Afterall, they are the ones that have to be happy with the pictures and getting their input will take some pressure off of you and give them a chance to contribute to the creative process.

Also, the Attorney General for the State of Texas is in a wheelchair and he has put some family photos. Take a look at those as well.

[kayumangi]

Standard posing practices apply, like:

If he's wearing any glasses make sure you place your lights at an angle where they won't directly reflect back at your camera

I guess if some parts of his wheelchair are shiny the same principle applies.

But other than that, the wheelchair is like any other posing chair. In fact, they are ideal because you can precisely angle and lock the position you want while your subjects are seated.

[CaptainTom]

It it's the wheelchair itself you are worried about, have him sit in a regular chair and pose the family around him just like you would do with Grandpa or Grandma.

[Jake]

Not sure how easy it is for him to get in and out of the wheel chair, but I almost always pose family's with small kids sitting on the ground.
If you can do that, then there would be no chair in the shot at all.

[sparkyjr]

Sonny,

I did a similar shoot a while back. I had the man sit on the ground up against a fence with other family members. Most people probably don't want to inconvenience having someone get out of their wheelchair, so the subject gets similar photos each time he is photographed. I thought it would be different for him to do it this way. They (the family) seemed to like the idea and it went over well.

[toverman]

You'll probably try lots of different angles, but for the man in the wheelchair, try some where your camera is about eye level with him. Sounds like good advice here already ... the wheelchair can be incorporated by not making it the subject by posing others around him.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by TxLerman

Sonny,

To help with your anxiety, remember a wheelchair is just a chair wth wheels. I would send the family a link to your portfolio and ask them to review your family shots, especially ones with people sitting. Then ask them to tell you what they think would work for them. Afterall, they are the ones that have to be happy with the pictures and getting their input will take some pressure off of you and give them a chance to contribute to the creative process.

Also, the Attorney General for the State of Texas is in a wheelchair and he has put some family photos. Take a look at those as well.

This is a great piece of advise.

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

It it's the wheelchair itself you are worried about, have him sit in a regular chair and pose the family around him just like you would do with Grandpa or Grandma.

That's one idea I wouldn't have thought of. Thanks Tom.

Originally Posted by thejakestir

Not sure how easy it is for him to get in and out of the wheel chair, but I almost always pose family's with small kids sitting on the ground.
If you can do that, then there would be no chair in the shot at all.

Originally Posted by sparkyjr

Sonny,

I did a similar shoot a while back. I had the man sit on the ground up against a fence with other family members. Most people probably don't want to inconvenience having someone get out of their wheelchair, so the subject gets similar photos each time he is photographed. I thought it would be different for him to do it this way. They (the family) seemed to like the idea and it went over well.

Thank you Jake & Robert. These are two more great options. If Aaron is worried about his missing leg, I can place the rest of the family around him to hide the fact.

Originally Posted by toverman

You'll probably try lots of different angles, but for the man in the wheelchair, try some where your camera is about eye level with him. Sounds like good advice here already ... the wheelchair can be incorporated by not making it the subject by posing others around him.

That's good to know. Changing levels will bring the focus down to him instead of everybody looking down at him.



I appreciate everybody for taking time to respond. I really want Jeana & Aaron to be happy with their first family portrait.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

http://www.jupiterimages.com/Search/...%20wheelchairs
has a lot of stock images of people in wheelchairs but on the first page on the first row I like the one marked as 86500562 which is of an older man with silver hair. On page 3 the 4 ladies with the red hats is nice also on that same page the oriental woman with the close crop is good. On page 5 (top row) the family with the wife in the wheelchair and the husband setting next to her with the kids around them may be the type of composition that would work for you #.200276525-001

In fact the last one where the spouse is also seated has you almost not even noticing the chair.